Tang Wan had hung up the phone but still looked troubled; after all, Mrs. Jiang was too enthusiastic, insisting that she come to stay at their home.
It would have been one thing to go on vacation to Beijing and stay at her place for a couple of days, but with something like a medical treatment, which might take months—although their grandparents were acquainted, they were ultimately not close. Who would feel comfortable with that?
"What’s wrong?" The old man leaned against the hospital bed. No sooner had he finished speaking than the door to the ward was pushed open, and Tang Yunxian, carrying a briefcase, walked in. "It’s not off work time yet, is it?"
"I’ve finished handling things." He had hurried over upon hearing that the old man had agreed to the surgery to check on the situation. "I heard you’ve agreed to the surgery?"
"You’ve been nagging in my ear, and I find it annoying. I don’t want to be called a stubborn old man who’s a burden to his children."
"I’m also considering your health." Tang Yunxian smiled and turned his head to look at Jiang Jinsang, who had already stood up and was offering a greeting.
"We’re all so familiar now; no need for formalities. Sit down." Tang Yunxian had already learned that his old man had agreed to the surgery, thanks to Jiang Jinsang, and so his attitude was naturally much friendlier.
"Please have a seat." There weren’t many chairs in the hospital room, and Jiang Jinsang politely said, "I’ve been sitting all day; I’d like to stand for a bit."
"The child is offering you a seat; you should sit." The old man was sizing up Jiang Jinsang, looking increasingly satisfied.
"I’ll leave you to talk then; I’ll go and look for Jiangjiang." Jiang Jinsang knew that their family definitely had some matters they wouldn’t want to discuss in his presence.
Jiangjiang had woken up and had gone out to play, so it was a good time for Jiang Jinsang to go look for him.
After he left the ward and closed the door, old Tang straightened up and looked at Tang Yunxian. "Yunxian, tell me honestly, what do you think of Xiaowu?"
"I’ve told you before, I have a good eye; I saw this child when he was little, and he really is not bad."
Tang Wan sat on the side, peeling an orange, and said nothing.
"After all that’s happened recently, I can also tell he’s not bad. Since you like him so much, I have an immature suggestion..."
"Go on!" The old man felt proud to have his choice acknowledged, as if it reflected glory on him.
"How about you take him as your godson?"
After Tang Yunxian finished, he enumerated the benefits of doing so. "You already like him, and this would bring you even closer."
"Besides, there are some people who can’t become relatives through marriage and easily become enemies. If you recognize him as your godson, you won’t have to worry about that."
The entire ward was deathly silent. After a few seconds, the old man was so angry that he took off his reading glasses and nearly threw them. "I want him to be my granddaughter’s husband, not some godson!"
Tang Yunxian raised his eyebrows. "It was just an immature suggestion; don’t get upset."
"If you knew it was immature, then you shouldn’t have suggested it!"
"If you want him to be your granddaughter’s husband, he and Wanwan have to have feelings for each other first. What do you think, Wanwan? Do you like him?"
Tang Wan was peeling an orange, her head unexpectedly bursting into flames. On one side was her grandfather, and on the other side was her father, both staring at her fixedly. And this was clearly a question that put her on the spot!
She simply put the orange on the table. "I’m going to wash my hands."
Although the hospital room had its own restroom, she instead opened the door and ran out.
She hadn’t expected that as soon as she left, she would see Jiang Jinsang standing at the door, their eyes meeting. It was extremely awkward; she brushed past him and headed straight for the public restroom.
Jiang Jinsang had genuinely left his phone in the ward and had come back to get it when he overheard Tang Yunxian’s immature suggestion.
He had been thinking that Tang Yunxian had been looking at him much more kindly of late as if he saw him as a son!
I want to be your son-in-law, yet you treat me like a son?
When Tang Wan came out after washing her hands, she ran into Jiang Jinsang. "Weren’t you going to look for Jiangjiang?"
"I was just about to."
"Just now..." Tang Wan coughed, the soundproofing in the ward was not exactly great, "My grandfather and dad were just talking nonsense; don’t take it to heart."
Jiang Jinsang stepped forward. "Uncle Tang wants to take me as his godson, but what about you?"
His voice was naturally gentle and soft, making it sound very tender, especially as he was standing so close.
"Me?" Tang Wan furrowed her brows.
"Do you want me to be your brother?"
Tang Wan watched as he leaned closer. The setting sun was casting its light through the end of the corridor and onto them, elongating his shadow, which almost enveloped her completely, as if he was wrapping her from head to toe.
Remembering their embrace earlier, restrained yet warm, her cheeks flushed a deeper red.
"Although I really like you calling me Brother Wu, but..."
"I don’t want to be your brother."
Tang Wan didn’t know what to say, only responding in a muffled voice.
"I’m going to look for Jiangjiang; want to come along?" Jiang Jinsang knew Tang Wan had "escaped" from the ward and probably didn’t want to go back.
"Mm." Tang Wan nodded and followed him closely.
Don’t want to be my brother? Then what do you want to be to me?
Jiang Jinsang subconsciously rubbed his fingers together. Tang Yunxian’s idea was too threatening; he had to nip that notion in the bud as soon as possible.
After the call ended, Mrs. Jiang looked around the room, her gaze resting on the two grown men in the living room. "What do you think? If the Tang family comes over, where should we arrange for them to stay?"
One older brother, lowering his head to drink tea, replied, "Mom, how can you be sure they will come to stay?"
Another spoke as a husband, "Let’s wait until it’s confirmed, it’s too early to consider this now."
Mrs. Jiang only looked at the duo. "I’m asking you for a suggestion, not for other comments."
The two men of the Jiang family: "..."
"Old Tang’s health isn’t good; climbing stairs probably won’t be easy. Maybe arrange them on the first floor?"
The two men of the Jiang Family: "Not bad!" "Very good!"
Mrs. Jiang snorted coldly: "Humoring me; you might as well have said nothing."
So what do they actually want them to do?
One person looked sideways at their father and said in a low voice, "What do you think are the odds of the Tang family coming to stay?"
"As long as Xiaowu wants, what do you think is impossible?"
True, his brother’s bold moves were always numerous. He was supposed to go and break off an engagement but instead, he insisted on staying and not leaving their house—unparalleled indeed!